Category:House mascots | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Talk0 Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you’ve made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. For all mascots of a Hogwarts House (Lion, Badger, Eagle/Raven, Serpent). Houses | Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Hogwarts School of Witchcraft And Wizardry Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Houses ArianaPotter Houses The coat of arms of Hogwarts shows each house's mascot and House colours. Clockwise from top left: the Gryffindor lion, the Slytherin serpent, the Ravenclaw eagle, and the Hufflepuff badger. The motto translates as "never tickle a sleeping dragon". Hogwarts is divided into four houses, each bearing the last name of its founder: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff.

The houses compete throughout the school year, by earning and losing points for various events, for the House Cup (correctly answering a question in class, for example, may earn five or ten points; lateness to class may cost ten points). Each house also has its own Quidditch team that competes for the Quidditch Cup. These two competitions breed rivalries between the houses. Houses at Hogwarts are living and learning communities for their students. Each house is under the authority of one of the Hogwarts staff members. The Heads of the houses, as they are called, are in charge of giving their students important information, dealing with matters of severe punishment, and responding to emergencies in their houses, among other things. Each year, year level groups of every separate house share the same dormitory and classes. The dormitory and common room of a House are, barring rare exceptions, inaccessible to students belonging to other Houses. In the early day of Hogwarts, the four founders hand-picked students for their Houses.

When the founders worried how students would be selected after their deaths, Godric Gryffindor took his hat off and they each added knowledge to it, allowing the Sorting Hat to choose the students by judging each student's qualities and placing them in the most appropriate house. The student's own choices may affect the decision: the clearest example is the Hat telling Harry that he would do well in Slytherin in the first book, but ultimately selecting Gryffindor after Harry asks it not to put him in Slytherin. The translators of the books’ foreign editions had difficulty translating the "house" concept; in countries where this system does not exist, no word could adequately convey the importance of belonging to a house, the loyalty owed to it, and the pride taken in prizes won by the house.[20] Gryffindor Gryffindor values courage, bravery, loyalty, nerve and chivalry. Its mascot is the lion, and its colours are scarlet and gold. The Head of this house is the Transfiguration teacher, Minerva McGonagall, and the house ghost is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, more commonly known as Nearly Headless Nick.

According to Rowling, Gryffindor corresponds roughly to the element of fire. The founder of the house is Godric Gryffindor. The Gryffindor common room is located in one of the castle's highest towers, the entrance to which is located on the seventh floor in the east wing of the castle and is guarded by a painting of The Fat Lady, who is garbed in a pink dress. She permits entry only after being given the correct password, as was distinguished in the third book, when Sirius Black tried forcing entry into the tower, only to be blocked by The Fat Lady after he could not give the correct password. In the first book, Neville Longbottom tends to forget the password and must wait near the painting until other Gryffindors arrive to open the way.[21] Hufflepuff Hufflepuff values hard work, tolerance, loyalty, and fair play. The house mascot is the badger, and canary yellow and midnight black are its colours. The Head of this house is the Herbology teacher Pomona Sprout, and the house ghost is The Fat Friar. According to Rowling, Hufflepuff corresponds roughly to the element of earth.

The founder of this house is Helga Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuff dormitories and common room are located somewhere in the basement. The entrance is found behind a still life painting somewhere near the kitchens, a password is required for entry. The Hufflepuff common room is filled with yellow hangings and fat armchairs and it has little underground tunnels leading to the dormitories, all of which have perfectly round doors, like barrel tops (much like a badger sett).[22] Ravenclaw Ravenclaw values intelligence, creativity, learning, and wit.[HP5][HP7] The house mascot is an eagle and the house colours are blue and bronze (blue and grey in the films). The head of this house is the Charms professor, Filius Flitwick, and the house ghost is The Grey Lady. According to Rowling, Ravenclaw corresponds roughly to the element of air. The founder of this house is Rowena Ravenclaw. The dormitories are located in Ravenclaw Tower on the west side of the school.

The common room, which went undescribed in the series until the climax of Deathly Hallows, is round and filled with blue hangings and fat armchairs, has a domed ceiling painted with stars and features a replica statue of Rowena wearing her diadem. Harry also notes that, by day, the Ravenclaws "would have a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains." A logical riddle must be solved to gain entry, whereas the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin common rooms only require a password, indicating that it may be easier for those students from other houses who possess a high degree of intelligence to enter this common room than others. Professor McGonagall, the head of the Gryffindor House, solves the riddle accurately. Slytherin Slytherin house values ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness. The house mascot of Slytherin is the serpent, and the house colours are green and silver. Salazar Slytherin founded the house. The Head of House is Severus Snape until near the end of the sixth book. Then, Horace Slughorn, the previous Head of House, comes out of retirement re-assuming authority.

The ghost of Slytherin house is The Bloody Baron.[23] According to Rowling, Slytherin corresponds roughly to the element of water. The Slytherin dormitories and common room are reached through a bare stone wall in the dungeons. The Slytherin common room is a long, low, dungeon-style room, located under the Hogwarts Lake, furnished with green lamps and carved armchairs. The room is described in the second book as having a greenish glow. The Sorting Hat claims that blood purity is a factor in selecting Slytherins, although this is not mentioned until the fifth book. There is no reason to believe, however, that Muggle-born students are not sorted there, merely that pure-blooded students are more desirable to that house, as there are several examples of half-bloods in the house (such as Snape and Voldemort). In Deathly Hallows, a group of Snatchers claim that "not many Mudbloods" are sorted into Slytherin. When believing Harry to be dead and thinking that he has final victory in his grasp, Voldemort proclaims his intention to abolish the other three houses and force all Hogwarts students into Slytherin.

This design is foiled by his defeat and death, after which Slytherin becomes more diluted in its blood purity, no longer remaining the pure-blood bastion it once was. Its dark reputation, however, does linger.[22] The Houses of Hogwarts There are four Houses at Hogwarts, each named after the founders of the school -- the four greatest witches and wizards of the age. At the beginning of the year, the first year students place the Sorting Hat on their head and it will sort them into the House they will belong to for the rest of their time at Hogwarts. The four Houses are: Gryffindor, named after Godric Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, named after Helga Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, named after Rowena Ravenclaw and Slytherin, named after Salazar Slytherin. This page will give you a little more information on them. First is Gryffindor. Founded by Godric Gryffindor, this is the House that most Hogwarts students would prefer to be in. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are all in Gryffindor and it would appear that Albus Dumbledore himself was a Gryffindor.

The resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington. In the first book, the Sorting Hat proclaims that Gryffindors are brave at heart. 'Their daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart', it says. Gryffindor is headed by Professor Minerva McGonagall, who is also the Transfiguration teacher and the Deputy Headmistress. If I had to choose a house to put myself in, I think I'd have to choose Gryffindor. It seems to me to be the best of the Houses. Founder: Godric Gryffindor Fashion Inspired by the Hogwarts Houses - Hufflepuff - College Fashion Fashion Inspired by the Hogwarts Houses - Hufflepuff Avatar: 695 JK Rowling changed the world when she wrote the Harry Potter series. Not only did she write seven amazing novels, but she created a new and exciting world for all of her readers to lose themselves in. And after the responses to our recent posts on Hermione Granger's style , and Fashion Inspired by Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part I , we know you guys love these books as much as we do!

If you don't already know the story of Harry Potter, there's too much to summarize here, so we recommend picking up the books already (you'll thank us!) or checking out the HP Wikipedia Page for a detailed summary. Suffice to say the books revolve around Harry, an orphan boy who, on his 11th birthday, finds out he is a famous wizard, and is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts is separated into four houses, each named after one of the founders of the school: Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor. Once students arrive at Hogwarts for their first year, the magical Sorting Hat is placed upon their head to choose which house they belong in according to their personality. Each Hogwarts house has a distinct set of characteristics that it values, along with an interesting historical background. This series of articles features fashion inspired by each of the four Hogwarts houses. First up is Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff History and Facts Founder: Hufflepuff was founded by Helga Hufflepuff, a sweet and talented witch who was exceptionally skilled in food-related charms. Many of her recipes are still used in the Hogwarts kitchens.

Animal Mascot: Badger House Colors: Yellow and Black Head of House: Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher Common Room: located underneath Hogwarts. To enter, students pass through a painting near the kitchens. It is quite cozy, despite being underground, and there are tunnels that lead from the common room to the round, barrel top-shaped doors of the dormitories. The Hufflepuff common room is the only one that Harry and his friends do not visit in the books or movies, so it isn't described in great detail. Do you have what it takes to be a Hufflepuff? Helga Hufflepuff valued a number of traits when choosing students to be in her house. To be a Hufflepuff, you need to be compassionate, hardworking, friendly, loyal, just, and non-judgmental. Being known as a kind witch, Helga Hufflepuff was accepting of everyone, so if they didn't particularly fit into any of the other houses, they were welcomed into Hufflepuff. Because of this, the people in Hufflepuff are often stereotyped as not being particularly exceptional.

This is definitely not true, because there are a number of Hufflepuff students recognized in the books for their extraordinary feats. Famous Hufflepuffs Nymphadora Tonks - the intelligent Auror and member of the Order of the Phoenix with the ever-changing hair color. Cedric Diggory - chosen as the Hogwarts competitor in the Triwizard Tournament in the Goblet of Fire Zacharius Smith - member of Dumbledore's Army, the secret group of students who gather together and learn spells to defend themselves from Dark Magic. Justin Finch-Fletchy, Ernie MacMillan, Hannah Abbott, and Susan Bones - members of Dumbledore's Army. Hufflepuff Outfit Inspiration - Date Night Whether you're going on a date to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, or just strolling around Hogsmeade with your friends, this is the perfect outfit. To start, I used an adorable blouse paired with a skirt, both in the Hufflepuff colors. The bracelet has barrel wood beads, like the doors to the Hufflepuff dormitories, and I also included an adorable cup for your tea because Helga Hufflepuff left behind a relic of an enchanted cup.

I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that the relic is extremely significant in the 7th book. Cup- Ikea , Shoes- Peacocks , Top- Topshop , Skirt- Old Navy , Bracelet- Tarina Tarantino , Necklace- Avalaya , Socks- Fred Flare Hanging Around the Common Room When you're just hanging out, and you want to be comfortable but still look cute, you can wear an outfit like this. Sticking with the Hufflepuff color palette, I used yellow corduroy pants and black accessories. Finally, I chose a striped sweater, reminiscent of the stripes on Hufflepuff's animal, the badger. Hair Bow- Tilt , Bag- Forever 21 , Pants- Alloy , Sweater- Modcloth , Shoes- Journey's Formal Hufflepuff Outfit The last outfit would be perfect to wear somewhere special that requires a formal outfit (perhaps something like the Yule Ball). When I think of a Hufflepuff girl, I picture one of those bubbly, sweet girls that everyone loves. With that in mind, I chose this pleasant little yellow dress, adorable patterned tights and heels adorned with bows.

I also used a ring made from a recycled spoon, since Helga Hufflepuff was talented with food. Tights- Miss Selfridge , Dress- Forever 21 , Ring- Amazon , Shoes- Charlotte Russe What do you think? Are you inspired by Hufflepuff and the other Hogwarts houses? Which house do you think you would belong to if you lived in Harry Potter's world? Which Hogwarts House-inspired article are you excited to read in the future? We want to know what you think, so be sure to leave a comment! Tags Harry Potter Gryffindor Costume: Houses At Hogwarts Harry Potter Gryffindor Costume Houses At Hogwarts The coat of arms of Hogwarts shows each house's mascot and House colours. Clockwise from top left: the Gryffindor lion, the Slytherin serpent, the Ravenclaw eagle, and the Hufflepuff badger. The inscription translates to "Never tickle a sleeping dragon." Hogwarts is divided into four houses , each bearing the last name of its founder: Godric Gryffindor , Salazar Slytherin , Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff .

The houses compete throughout the school year, by earning and losing points for various events, for the House Cup (correctly answering a question in class, for example, may earn five or ten points; lateness to class may cost ten points). Each house also has its own Quidditch team that competes for the Quidditch Cup. These two competitions breed rivalries between the houses. Houses at Hogwarts are living and learning communities for their students. Each house is under the authority of one of the Hogwarts staff members. The Heads of the houses, as they are called, are in charge of giving their students important information, dealing with matters of severe punishment, and responding to emergencies in their houses, among other things. Each year, year level groups of every separate house share the same dormitory and classes. The dormitory and common room of a House are, barring rare exceptions, inaccessible to students belonging to other Houses. In the early day of Hogwarts, the four founders hand-picked students for their Houses.

When the founders worried how students would be selected after their deaths, Godric Gryffindor took his hat off and they each added knowledge to it, allowing the Sorting Hat to choose the students by judging each student's qualities and placing them in the most appropriate house. The student's own choices may affect the decision: the clearest example is the Hat telling Harry that he would do well in Slytherin in the first book, but ultimately selecting Gryffindor after Harry asks it not to put him in Slytherin. The translators of the books’ foreign editions had difficulty translating the "house" concept; in countries where this system does not exist, no word could adequately convey the importance of belonging to a house, the loyalty owed to it, and the pride taken in prizes won by the house. Gryffindor Gryffindor values courage, bravery, loyalty, nerve and chivalry. Its mascot is the lion, and its colours are scarlet and gold. The Head of this house is the Transfiguration teacher, Minerva McGonagall , and the house ghost is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, more commonly known as Nearly Headless Nick . The founder of the house is Godric Gryffindor.

The Gryffindor common room is located in one of the castle's highest towers, the entrance to which is located on the seventh floor in the east wing of the castle and is guarded by a painting of The Fat Lady , who is garbed in a pink dress. She permits entry only after being given the correct password, as was distinguished in the third book, when Sirius Black tried forcing entry into the tower, only to be blocked by The Fat Lady after he could not give the correct password. In the first book, Neville Longbottom tends to forget the password and must wait near the painting until other Gryffindors arrive to open the way. Hufflepuff Hufflepuff values hard work, tolerance, loyalty, and fair play. The house mascot is the badger, and canary yellow and midnight black are its colours. The Head of this house is the Herbology teacher Pomona Sprout , and the house ghost is The Fat Friar . According to Rowling, Hufflepuff corresponds roughly to the element of earth . The founder of this house is Helga Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuff dormitories and common room are located somewhere in the basement.

The entrance is found behind a still life painting somewhere near the kitchens, a password is required for entry. The Hufflepuff common room is filled with yellow hangings and fat armchairs and it has little underground tunnels leading to the dormitories, all of which have perfectly round doors, like barrel tops (much like a badger sett ). Ravenclaw Ravenclaw values intelligence, creativity, learning, and wit.The house mascot is an eagle and the house colours are blue and bronze (blue and grey in the films). The head of this house is the Charms professor, Filius Flitwick , and the house ghost is The Grey Lady . According to Rowling, Ravenclaw corresponds roughly to the element of air . The founder of this house is Rowena Ravenclaw. The dormitories are located in Ravenclaw Tower on the west side of the school. The common room, which went undescribed in the series until the climax of Deathly Hallows, is round and filled with blue hangings and fat armchairs, has a domed ceiling painted with stars and features a replica statue of Rowena wearing her diadem .

Harry also notes that, by day, the Ravenclaws "would have a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains." A logical riddle must be solved to gain entry, whereas the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin common rooms only require a password, indicating that it may be easier for those students from other houses who possess a high degree of intelligence to enter this common room than others. Professor McGonagall, the head of the Gryffindor House, solves the riddle accurately. Slytherin Slytherin house values ambition, cunning, leadership, resourcefulness, and most of all, pure wizard blood. The house mascot of Slytherin is the serpent, and the house colours are green and silver. Salazar Slytherin founded the house. The Head of House is Severus Snape until near the end of the sixth book. Then, Horace Slughorn , the previous Head of House, comes out of retirement re-assuming authority. The ghost of Slytherin house is The Bloody Baron .The Slytherin dormitories and common room are reached through a bare stone wall in the dungeons.

The Slytherin common room is a long, low, dungeon-style room, located under the Hogwarts Lake, furnished with green lamps and carved armchairs. The room is described in the second book as having a greenish glow. The Sorting Hat claims that blood purity is a factor in selecting Slytherins, although this is not mentioned until the fifth book. There is no reason to believe, however, that Muggle-born students are not sorted there, merely that pure-blooded students are more desirable to that house, as there are several examples of half-bloods in the house (such as Snape and Voldemort). In Deathly Hallows, a group of Snatchers claim that "not many Mudbloods" are sorted into Slytherin. When believing Harry to be dead and thinking that he has final victory in his grasp, Voldemort proclaims his intention to abolish the other three houses and force all Hogwarts students into Slytherin. This design is foiled by his defeat and death, after which Slytherin becomes more diluted in its blood purity, no longer remaining the pure-blood bastion it once was. Its dark reputation, however, does linger.

Badger | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia —Hufflepuff Prefect Gabriel Truman on his house mascot. [src] A badger is a carnivorous mammal of the Mustelidae family, distinguishable by the white stripe that runs down its snout. [1] It is the mascot of Hufflepuff House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . Uric the Oddball once turned up for a presentation before the Wizards' Council wearing nothing but a toupee that turned out to be a dead badger, after listening to a Fwooper 's song continuously for three months. Why Does The Lion Roar For Gryffindor?: Hogwarts House Mascots - Comfy Chair Why Does The Lion Roar For Gryffindor?: Hogwarts House Mascots Essay (8) Analysis (7) Harry Potter (6) JK. Rowling (2) Animals play an important part in J.K. Rowlingï¿½s Harry Potter series. They are shown in numerous forms, from animagi, to mythical beasts, to a patronus. They are symbols of protection, fear, and most importantly symbols of magic.

It is Professor McGonagall, in the form of a cat, who first introduces us to the world of magic. When Uncle Vernon is on the way to work ï¿½he noticed the first sign of something peculiar ï¿½ a cat reading a mapï¿½ (Rowling 1997, 8). Animals also represent the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Rowling did not just pick any animal arbitrarily to mascot these houses; each was clearly chosen with care, to reflect the students in them. So what makes the lion roar for Gryffindor, the badger love Hufflepuff? Why does the eagle soar for Ravenclaw, and the snake sing for Slytherin? In the course of this essay, I intend to discover why Rowling felt these animals were the perfect match for their houses by investigating the mythologies behind them. Image from Wikimedia To understand why these animals were chosen, we must first identify the traits of each house.

When Harry first arrives at Hogwarts, the sorting hat bursts into song: You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave of heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart; (88) Bravery is the standout trait of a Gryffindor, as can be seen by Harryï¿½s willingness to fight Voldemort, even though Harry is just a little boy. Ron also displays courage in the wizardï¿½s chess match; he understands that they have to ï¿½make some sacrificesï¿½ (205), and allows himself to be taken by the queen. Gryffindors could be compared to Richard the Lion Heart. As the title suggests, lions are not only considered brave, but a figure of royalty. Lions are known as the ï¿½king of beastsï¿½, and Gryffindor, whose colours of red and gold signify royalty, is represented as the ruling house, because it is the house of the three main protagonists.

The famous childrenï¿½s nursery rhyme, ï¿½The Lion and the Unicornï¿½ is an allegory for the Kings of England and Scotland fighting for the crown, which can be directly compared to Hogwartsï¿½s competition for the house cup: whichever wins becomes the reigning house. The rhyme states that ï¿½the lion beat the unicornï¿½, and indeed, from the first book of the series, Gryffindor wins the cup. Gryffindors is also known for its chivalry, and upholding what is right. In mythology, the lion has a ï¿½reputation for not putting up with evilï¿½ (Mathews 2005, 367), as can be seen in Hindu myth. The goddess, Durga, rides on a lionï¿½s back and defeats a demonic buffalo with a sword, just like the one wielded by the house founder, Godric Gryffindor; Harry, later, went on to kill the basilisk with the weapon.

As with any weapon, swords signify violence, and while lions are considered chivalrous, they are also known for their ï¿½warlike natureï¿½ (367) due to their ferocity. They have a short temper, which can equally be seen in Harry, as he often explodes at his friends and teachers when he is angry. It is no surprise considering all the turmoil he has to deal with, but it goes to show, that like the lion, Gryffindors are not to be messed with. Peter Pettigrew, for example, was meant to be James Potterï¿½s friend, yet, because he was weak, Peter betrayed James by siding with Voldemort so he could become stronger. Strength is important to Gryffindors because they have a lot of pride; Ron Weasley, for example, is embarrassed at being poor, and does not want charity because he considers it demeaning. It is intriguing, therefore, that lions live in a pride, as the word reflects their nature. Image from Wikimedia Going right back to Ancient Greece, lions are a symbol of strength.

According to Matthews, ï¿½The strength of the lion is one that human beings are continually trying to gain for themselves from the exploits of Hercules and the Nemean Lion onwardsï¿½ (367). Herculesï¿½s great strength and temper got him into trouble on many occasions; sent into a rage by Hera, he killed is own children, and as a form of redemption took on twelve labours, which included defeating the powerful Nemean Lion. By doing so, he gains strength and added respect. Both Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom are similar to the Hercules portrayed in the Disney film, Hercules (Musker & Clements 1997), because their parents are also taken from them at a very young age. As a result, they are stripped of magic. While Neville is magically challenged, Harry grows up not knowing he is a wizard at all, just like Disneyï¿½s Hercules does not know he is a god. Hercules regains his status by defeating Hades, just as Harry and Neville prove their strength as wizards by fighting Voldemort.

Samas, the Akkadian god of ï¿½truth, justice and rectitudeï¿½ (369) is embodied as the Lion Man. Even today, the lion is a figure of justice, as can be seen by his appearance on the Crown Court emblem. In mythology, Samas enables King Etna to free an eagle who has been trapped by a serpent. Even before Harry Potter, the lion, eagle and serpent - all animals representing Hogwarts houses ï¿½ have a shared history. And just as the lion and serpent are in opposition in the story of King Etna, Gryffindor and Slytherin are constant rivals. While lions and Gryffindor both have admirable qualities, there is one vice they share: laziness. Lions sleep up to eighteen hours a day; this aversion to exertion is also seen in Fred, George and Ron Weasley, who would much rather muck around or sleep, than do their homework. Of course there is the studious Hermione Granger, but she is just like a mother lioness that goes out hunting and looking after her cubs, while the males sleep, eat, and show off male bravado.

Image from Wikimedia Hufflepuff is similar to Gryffindor in that they value justice, but they hold up this principle mainly through loyalty, as can be seen in the sorting hatï¿½s song: You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil; (Rowling 1997, 88) Although the badger does not have such a widely reported history as the lion, there are still many examples of how they fit the Hufflepuff mentality. Badgers feature most prominently in childrenï¿½s literature; the most widely known is probably Kenneth Grahameï¿½s The Wind In The Willows (1908). We can clearly see how loyal Badger is to his friends; no matter how hard Toad tests his patience, Badger never stops trying to rid Toad of motormania. Badger stays up all night to keep a watch on Toad, and risks his life when he confronts the weasels who have taken over Toad Hall.

Cedric Diggory also helps his friends; in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, despite being competitors, Cedric helps Harry in the second task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and later, even offers him the trophy. Cedric is not interested in his own personal glory, but in remaining loyal, not only to his house, but to the whole school. Hufflepuffs are also considered to have a kind and caring nature; this is because their founder, Helga Hufflepuff, was all-inclusive. While the other houses all looked for specific virtues, she stated that she would ï¿½teach the lot/ and treat them all the sameï¿½ (Rowling 2003, 185). In The Animals of Farthing Wood (Dann 1979), Badger has an ï¿½all for one, and one for allï¿½ mentality, and even calls for an ï¿½Oath of Mutual Protectionï¿½ (30). Badger is particularly protective of the blind Mole, so like Hufflepuffs, he looks after the vulnerable. The badger is a protector in Navajo tradition as well.

Legend says that Badger travelled down to the ï¿½yellow world of the grasshopper peopleï¿½ (Matthews, 53), where he freed the Navajo from the reeds they had been captured in. Here we see how the colour yellow ï¿½ Hufflepuffï¿½s house colour ï¿½ is associated with the badger from its inception; it is also fitting that the Hufflepuff common room is in the basement since their mascot is a burrowing animal. The Navajo further imbibed Badgerï¿½s nurturing nature by designating him as their medicine spirit. Badgers dig for roots and plants that have healing properties, so could be compared to Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher, and Hufflepuffï¿½s head of house. She knows all about magical ailments, and in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, cultivates mandrake root in order to restore petrified victims back to health. Hufflepuffs are also very hardworking. Unlike Gryffindors, who have a knack for procrastination, those in Hufflepuff are dedicated and conscientious, working their hardest to do the best they can.

Just like any hibernating animal, they must make sure they have enough provisions to get through winter, which means foraging all autumn, scrounging for all the food they can find. It is probably why, in Celtic myth, they are considered an ï¿½animal of great resourceï¿½ (53). Image from Wikimedia Rowling emphasizes that Ravenclaw is a house for those with ï¿½a ready mindï¿½, and it is a place ï¿½Where those of wit and learning/ Will always find their kindï¿½ (1997, 88). In Mesopotamian myth, the eagle is ï¿½doubled-headed, representing its ability to see in both directions at the same time, and emphasizing its association with wisdomï¿½ (Mathews, 189). In practically every culture, the eagle is considered to be highly intelligent; its image was even carved into Platoï¿½s tomb to represent his ï¿½aspiring spiritï¿½ (189). Plato is a renowned philosopher, and his ideas are still widely discussed today.

He is part of a school of thought that believes in the pursuit of knowledge for knowledgeï¿½s sake. Ravenclaws are also meant to be very creative, and the eagle is associated with the arts in Norse mythology. When the ï¿½eternally wiseï¿½ (191) Kvasir was murdered by dwarves, his blood was turned into a mead; anyone who drank it would become a poet. The god, Odin, ï¿½set out to steal this magical brewï¿½ (191), and tricked the giants so he could drink it. Angry, the giants pursued him, and to escape, Odin transformed into the shape of an eagle; while in flight, he let slip a few drops of mead, which fell to earth and became ï¿½accessible to all poetsï¿½ (191). The eagle is thought to bring enlightenment, much in the same way as The Enlightenment came to Britain ï¿½ with an increased interest in the arts and new inventions. The Mayans believed the eagle brought light to the world by devouring the serpent of darkness. Just like Gryffindor, Ravenclaw is opposed to Slytherin.

But all too often, Slytherin is misunderstood. Although in the story of King Etna a serpent traps an eagle in a pit, it is important to know why. The eagle attacked her eggs. The serpent was protecting her family like all good Slytherins do. The Malfoy family is an example; Narcissa has Snape take an Unbreakable Vow to protect her son no matter what. While Hufflepuffs are loyal to all, Slytherins protect their own, just like the serpent in the story of King Etna. Perhaps this is why the founder, Salazar Slytherin, only wanted pure bloods in his house; he believes that ï¿½in Slytherin youï¿½ll make your real friendsï¿½ (Rowling 1997, 88), where you can put your trust and loyalty in them. The sorting hat describes Slytherins as ï¿½cunning folkï¿½, and in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, calls them people of ï¿½great ambitionï¿½ (2000, 157). These attributes can clearly be seen in their house mascot, the snake.

Snakes must be ambitious to take on prey three times their size; they use their slyness to catch their prey by patiently waiting and keeping camouflaged. To the Ancient Egyptians, snakes represent darkness and invisibility; just as snakes can camouflage themselves, Slytherins hide in plain sight. In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, for example, Crabbe and Goyle fool Harry by using polyjuice potion to disguise themselves as girls. Meanwhile, Draco remains invisible in the Room of Requirement, where he quite aptly uses his patience and cunning to fix an invisibility cabinet. Then of course there is Severus Snape, a double agent. He uses all his cunning to fool Voldemort, pretending to be his ally, when in fact he is gathering intelligence. Image from Wikimedia Maybe the reason snakes get such bad press is because of their perceived cunning; Slytherins have a certain charm that gives them the ability to manipulate, so people wonder if they can be trusted. The most famous story of the snake is in the bible. In the book of Genesis, a snake tempts Eve with a forbidden apple; the snake, however, never deceives Eve. It does not lie, merely offers a piece of fruit.

It is testing Eveï¿½s ability to resist temptation, to see whether she is worthy of living in Eden. Slytherins would consider the sorting hat as a kind of test; only the most worthy get placed in Slytherin, which to them is Eden. Some also believe the snake did humanity a favour, because one cannot grow in paradise. To experience true life, one has to change, and to change one need faults to improve on. Slytherin could represent the need to grow and develop; by having something or someone to fight against, it provides a purpose that makes life worth living. Another reason snakes are feared could be to do with their association with darkness; hidden in the shadows, they are an unknown, and people fear the unknown. Jung said that snakes represent the underworld, the ultimate unknown. But their close connection to death makes snakes all the more qualified to be Slytherinï¿½s mascot, as Tom Riddle, their most infamous member, is obsessed with immortality. In Hindu myth, snakes were spattered with the elixir of life, and their ability to shed their skin is seen as a metaphor for renewal and rebirth.

Perhaps that is why Riddle turned his snake, Nagini, into a horcrux. If an animal with such a connection to life and death were to carry part of his soul, it certainly increases his chances of immortality. All Slytherins seem to have a strong connection to serpents; in a wizardï¿½s duel, Draco casts serpensortia, and ï¿½a long black snakeï¿½ (Rowling 1998, 145) shoots out of his wand. And Salazar Slytherin himself was a Parselmouth. His ability to talk to snakes made them the perfect candidate to represent his house. As can be seen, Rowling considered each animal carefully. They all have a deep-rooted history in the mythology of many cultures, and over time, certain traits have become synonymous with the animals themselves. The Harry Potter series has now become part of that mythology and just grounds those connections all the more strongly into our society. The lion, badger, eagle, and snake all fit their houses to a tee. Bibliography Dann, Colin. The Animals of Farthing Wood. 1979.

UK: Mammoth, 1989 Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind and The Willow. 1908, US: Modern Library Classics, 2005 Illes, Judika. The Element Encyclopedia Of Witch Craft. Germany: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2002 Mathews, John, and Caitlin Matthews. The Element Encyclopedia Of Magical Creatures. Germany: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2005 Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Philosopherï¿½s Stone. UK: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1997 ___________, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. UK: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1998 ___________, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. UK: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1999 ___________, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. UK: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2000 ___________, Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix. UK: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2003 ___________, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

UK: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2005 ___________, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. UK: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2007 Filmography Hogwarts Houses – The Harry Potter Lexicon - The Harry Potter Lexicon The Harry Potter Lexicon Explore Characters Locations Magic Canon Events Things Creatures Essays About • 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 Students at Hogwarts are grouped into four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. When the students arrived on September 1 of their first year, they were met byMcGonagall, who explained the house system: "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.

Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." ( PS7 ) The students were then led into the Great Hall. There they were sorted into their houses by placing the Sorting Hat onto their heads, whereupon it decided which house they should sbelong to. Each house has a common room and dormitories where students sleep and spend their free time. Students do their studying and spend their free time in their common room when they aren't in the library. The common rooms have comfortable chairs and assorted tables for students to work at and to play games such as wizard chess orExploding Snap. Each common room also has a large fireplace. Each house has a Head, a staff member who is responsible for the students in that house. There are also several prefects from the houses. Each house also has a residentghost and an animal.

The Heads, animals, colors, and ghosts of each house are as follows: Gryffindor Houses of Hogwarts | The Daily Quibbler Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia The Daily Quibbler Wiki Share Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you’ve made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. The houses of Hogwarts are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. The Gryffindor house's trait is bravery. The mascot is a lion. The Ravenclaw house's trait is knowledge. The mascot is a eagle. The Ravenclaw house's mascot

Question: Which of the four houses in Hogwarts has a badger as mascot?
Answer: HUFFLEPUFF